Another exciting adventure in the magical land of Narnia awaits. The third film in the popular franchise is well made and offers a great film experience.

Plot
Lucy and Edmund are bored. They have to live with Eustace, their annoying cousin, in Cambridge, while Susan is vacationing in America and Peter is at University. Then, out of the blue, a painting depicting a royal ship is magically transformed, pulling Lucy, Edmund and Eustace through the painting and into Narnia.

The three children are safely pulled on board the ship, which is called the Dawn Treader. Here, they meet their old friends; Prince Caspian and Reepicheep the mouse. Lucy and Edmund are thrilled to be back in Narnia, while Eustace, on the other hand, can’t stop whining. At first, the children don’t know why they have been brought to Narnia. Soon, however, their mission becomes clear. On The Lone Islands, a mysterious and evil green fog has made several people disappear, including seven powerful lords and their magical swords.

The search for the seven swords, which, as a unity, is the only thing that can break the evil spell of the green fog, leads Lucy, Edmund, Eustace and the others to the outermost oceans. On the journey, they face numerous challenges, ranging from scary slave traders and horrible sea monsters, to temptations which put their innermost and darkest desires to a real test.

Quality and Theme
The third instalment in the Narnia franchise, offers, like the previous films, an exciting and well made film adventure. The digital effects are excellent, and the young actors make an impressive performance. Will Poulter, who portrays Eustace, creates, in a great way, a credible image of a boy who develops from a useless whiner to a brave and sympathetic warrior. As well as this, the film balances action filled sequences, warm humour and interpersonal drama in a good way.

The film has several weaknesses. As in other films based on books, the screenwriters have had to adapt the story to the film medium. In this process, the story has become less dynamic. Unrelated themes are put next to each other without any natural connection between the scenes. In addition, the description of the different temptations the children are exposed to lacks some depth. This is likely due to the fact that a more character centred approach to the story would have come at the expense of some of the action filled sequences. Surprisingly, at times, the use of 3D isn’t successful either. In some of the scenes depicting large crowds, the characters look like cardboard characters placed in different layers of depth. In other words, you won’t miss anything if you choose to watch the 2D version.

The message in the film is rich and meaningful. C.S. Lewis’ Christian message is quite obvious, even for children. Aslan is the saviour who is there for the children when they need him the most. The green fog is a metaphor for the power of the Devil, and Aslan’s country is clearly Heaven. At the same time, the film has a more secular message as well. In order to defeat the evil powers, Lucy, Edmund and Eustace first have to defeat the evil within them. Throughout the film the children face several temptations. Edmund shows glimpses of power hunger, and Lucy learns to appreciate herself as she is when her desire to be as pretty as Susan comes true for a short period of time.

Suitability
”The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” has a PG rating due to a number of dramatic scenes. These scenes clearly take place in a fictional universe, and for that reason, children from the age of 8 safely can see the film. However, some children might appreciate having their parents or an adult guardian next to them in the cinema.

Conclusion
Narnia is a fascinating and imaginative universe that has entertained children and adults ever since the books were published. The film versions of the “The Chronicles of Narnia” are made with respect and a lot of skill, and ”The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” provides a rich film experience.

Director: Michael Apted Genre: Adventure, Action Actors: Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley, Will Poulter, Laura Brent, Liam Neeson, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell and more Language: English Nationality: USA Production Company: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Fox 2000 Pictures, Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, Walden Media Length: 1h 53mins Production Year: 2010 Age limit: PG Suitability: Children/Young people BBFC’s Consumer Advice: Contains moderate fantasy violence and scary scenes.

Our Assessment: Recommended

Official website:
http://www.narnia.com/uk/

Other reviews:

Empire Online

Guardian